Method and apparatus for treating cashmere or similar fleeces



Jy 4, 1 950 R. A. FAIRBAIRN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CASHMERE0R SIMILAR FLEECES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 13, 1946 July 4, 195% R.A. FAIRBAIRN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CASHMERE 0R SIMILARFLEECES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15. 1946 Patented July '4, 1950METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CASHMERE OR SDWILAR FLEECES Robert A.Falrbairn, Needham, Mass.

Application November 13, 1946, Serial No. 709,505

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the preparation and removal or partial removalof coarse stifl fibers from cashmere, camels hair and fleeces of otheranimals which are comprised of relatively fine crimpy fibers and coarsestifl fibers or beard hairs, and it is in the nature of a modificationof one aspect of the invention disclosed in my copending applicationSerial No. 410,300 filed September 10, 1941, entitled Method andApparatus for Separating Fibers (now Patent No. 2,420,033). Thisapplication is a continuation in part of my copending application SerialNo. 706,488, filed October 29, 1946, entitled Method and Apparatus forSeparating Fibers.

The soft, fine, crimpy fibers of cashmere, camels hair, wool and thelike are very valuable for making fabrics, whereas the coarse stillfibers thereof (known as beard or kemp hairs) are generally undesirablefor such use and this invention relates to a novel and improved methodand apparatus for dividing the coarse stiif fibers into segments whileleaving the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers of greaterlength thereby to prepare an aggregate from which the shorter segmentsof the coarse stifi fibers may be readily separated to provide asegregated aggregate of fine crimpy fibers.

The invention will be explained with primary reference to cashmerealthough it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that it isequally applicable to camels hair, wool or to any other animal fleececomprising relatively fine crimpy fibers and undesirable coarse stififibers.

Cashmere fleece is obtained from the cashmere goat which is native inTibet and Northern India. The fleece is received in bale form andconsists of a mixture of fine crimpy fibers (down fibers), coarse stifffibers (beard hairs), dandruff, natural oil or grease and dirt. Thegrease and dirt are removed by scouring leaving a jumbled mass which, onthe average, consists of approximately 75% by weight of fine crimpyfibers, 25% coarse stifl fibers and dandrufi. Prior to this invention sofar as I know the coarse stiff fibers and dandruff were removed byrepeated carding and combing, and also in Japan, by picking out thecoarse stifi fibers by hand. The carding and combing operation is veryexpensive due both to the many carding and combing operations necessaryfor removal of the coarse stiff fibers and to the waste of down fiberswhich are removed with the coarse stifi' fibers. Furthermore, a cashmeretop made by that process still contains a considerable number of coarsestifi fibers, the percentage often being as high as by weight. When freecashmere noils (fine crimpy fibers substantially free from coarse stififibers) are produced by carding and combing. the fine crimpy fibers arebroken up into very short lengths and the value of such fibers islimited.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel method anda novel apparatus for dividing the majority at least of the coarse stifffibers into short lengths while leaving the majority at least of thefine crimpy fibers of an average length which is greater than theaverage length of the coarse stiff fibers thereby to prepare anaggregate from which the shorter stiif fibers readily may be separatedto leave an aggregate of the longer crimpy fibers.

A further object is to provide an improved method and apparatus which iseconomical in operation and in construction.

Further objects will be apparent from the consideration of the followingdescription and of the annexed drawings in which three embodiments of myapparatus are chosen for the purpose of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation, illustrating one embodimentof appropriate mechanical apparatus elements adapted to perfor oneembodiment of the method.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the section of the apparatus of Fig. 1from the arrow A to the arrow B looking in the direction of the arrow C,showing the apparatus for condensing the card web or film into a sliverand one embodiment of fiber dividing means.

3 is an elevation with parts shown in section of a modified form offiber dividing means.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view in elevation, illustrating anotherembodiment of appropriate mechanical apparatus elements adapted toperform the several steps of another embodiment of the method.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing details of one end of thefiber dividing means illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 4.

The fine crimpy fibers of cashmere, camels hair and wool areapproximately one third as long in retracted condition as they are infully extended or straight condition. y In other words, if a fine crimpyfiber is extended by grasping its ends and if the ends are then releasedthe fiber returns to its natural crimpy condition and its length in suchcondition is approximatelyv one third of its length in its straight orfully extended condition.

Cashmere and camels hair is normally sorted at the country of origininto three grades. In the first grade of camels hair the averageretracted length of the fine fibers is about 0.75 inch and the averageextended length is approximately 2.15 inches; in the second grade theaverage retracted length is approximately 1.25 inches and the averageextended length is approximately 3.75 inches; and in the third grade theaverage retracted length is approximately 1.75

inches and the average extended length is approximately 5.25 inches.. Ineach of these grades of camel's hair the length of coarse stiff fibersvaries from about 1.5 inches to about inches and the coarse fibers aremuch stiffer and much straighter than the fine fibers.

In the first grade of cashmere the average retracted length of the finefibers is approximately 1.5 inches; in the second grade it isapproxiinch to about 3 inches in the grades of wool which areappropriate for treatment by the method of this invention. The coarsestiff fibers (kemp hairs) are much stiffer and straighter and theirlength varies from about 2 inches to about 6 inches.

The raw stock to be processed preferably is first taken from the bale orbag in which it was packed in the place of its origin and is dusted andscoured for the purpose of removing as much sand, dust, vegetable defectand natural grease as possible. The steps of scouring and dusting arenot necessary but are preferred.

The stock is then fed to a machine which is adapted to open up the fiberand pull apart the matted tips and cots for the dual purpose ofreleasing additional entrapped impurities and disposing the fiber overthe width of the machine in an increasingly thinner web or film as itprogresses along the length of the machine from feed to delivery. Such amachine may be a card or a garnett. The thickness of the web or film asit is delivered by the card or garnett may vary from an average of 1 or2 fibers thick to an average of several fibers thick. The fine crimpyfibers and the coarse stiff fibers are intermingled in the film or weband they cross and recross each other. The fine crimpy fibers are inretracted condition whereas the coarse stiff fibers are in generallyextended condition. An illustration of one embodiment of such a web isillustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings of my said copending applicationSerial No. 410,300 (now Patent No. 2,420,033).

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the film or web F is removedfrom the card or garnett cylinder by a doffer cylinder 10, it isadvanced by the doffer cylinder to the reciprocating doffer comb H whichremoves the film or web from the surface of the dofier cylinder anddeposits it upon the condensing aprons II and 12. The condensing apronl'l is continuously driven toward the longitudinal center line of themachine by the rolls I3 and I4 and the condensing apron I2 is driven inthe opposite direction by the rolls I5 and I6. These aprons serve tocondense the film or web of fibers into a sliver S which is fed throughthe trumpet l8 and is periodically advanced to the cutter 19 by the feedrolls 20 and 2| which may be provided with ratchet or other suitablemeans for periodically rotating them a predetermined distance.

The sliver S rests upon the smooth surface of the cutter plate 22 andthe reciprocating cutter 23 is periodically lowered and raised in timedrelationship with the step by step rotation of the feed rolls, so thatit severs the fibers in the sliver at intervals which are spaced apart adistance equal to the distance which the sliver is advanced during eachperiodic rotation of the feed rolls.

The cut aggregate is deposited upon the surface of the apron 24 and isadvanced thereby to the feed roll 26. The feed roll 26 continuouslyremoves the fibers from the conveyor belt 24 and carries them to thebite of the rolls 26 and 21. The roll 21 continuously transfers them tothe surface of the cylinder 28 which as illustrated is provided withcard clothing.

Three sets of workers and strippers Zip-29 30 -30! and 3l 3| are mountedabove the cylinder 28 and the cylinder 28 and these workers andstrippers cooperate to rearrange the fibers in the form of a thin web orfilm F which extends throughout the width of the face of the cylinder 28and in which fine and coarsefibers are intermingled.

The dofier cylinder 33 is provided with card clothing the teeth of whichpoint in the direction indicated and it may be rotated in acounterclockwise direction at a smaller surface speed than that of thecylinder 28, the ratio being of the order of 1 to 10.

The rotary brush 34 is rovided with bristles which are relatively stiffand it is rotated in a counterclockwise direction at a substantiallygreater surface speed than that of the doffer 33. The dofier cylinder 35is provided with card clothing and is rotated at'a slower surface speedthan that of the brush 34 and in a clockwise direction. The strippercylinder 36 is provided with card clothing and it may be rotated at afaster surface speed than that of the doffer cylinder 35 and in aclockwise direction. The rotary brush 31 is similar in construction tothe brush 34 and it is rotated in a counterclockwise direction at asubstantially greater surface speed than that of the stripper cylinder36. The cylinder 38 is provided with card clothing and it is rotated ata greater surface speed than that of the brush 31.

The doffer cylinder 33 removes the film or web F from the surface of thecylinder 28 and the tips of the bristles of the brush 34 engage the finecrimpy fibers while they are on the surface of the cylinder 33 and theystraighten the fine fibers, remove them from the retentive clothing ofthe cylinder 33 and advance them at a greatly ac- -celerated speed. Thiscauses many of the segments of the coarse stiff fibers to be throwndownwardly and free from the film or web F substantially at the regionof removal of the film or web from the surface of the cylinder 33. Thecylinder 35 removes the film or web from the surface of the brush 34 andthe cylinder 36 removes the film or web from the surface of the cylinder35 and advances it upwardly, forwardly and downwardly. The brush 31acting against the back of the teeth of the card clothing of thecylinder 36 removes the film or web F from the surface of the cylinder36 and causes additional segments of the coarse stiff fibers to bethrown downwardly and free from the film or web.

The cylinder 38 removes the film or web from the surface of the brush 31and subjects it'to the action of the workers and strippers 39"--39 40-40 and 4 "-4 l The action of the cylinder 38 and the workers andstrippers is to straighten out to some extent the fine crimpy fibers andto rearrange them in the form of a relatively thin The dividingapparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 comprises a base plate 80 and a rotarymember 8| which carries a plurality of dividing elements 82. Thesedividing elements extend helically of the rotary member 8| and areparallel to each other. This apparatus functions like a lawnmower andthe ends of the dividing elements 82 engage the base plate 80 to dividethe fibers of the web or film F at intervals which are spaced apart adistance corresponding to the distance between the severing edges of thedividing elements 82.

In use, the film or web F is advanced continuously along the surface ofthe base plate 80 and the member BI is rotated continuously in thedirection of the arrow of Fig. 3. The dividing means of Fig. 3, forexample, may be substituted for the dividing means 56 of Fig. 4 or forthe dividing means I9 of Fig. 1. When this dividing means is substitutedfor the dividing means IQ of Fig. 1 the step by step feed of the rolls20 and 2! is changed to a continuous feed. When this dividing means isubstituted for that of Fig. 4 the film or web F is delivered to thesurface of the plate 80 by a moving apron similar to the apron 24 ofFig. l and feed rolls similar to the rolls 26 and 21 of Fig. l aresubstituted for the rotary brush SI of Fig. 4, so that the aggregate offibers which is advanced from the dividing means 80, BI and 82 isdeposited upon the apron, advanced by the apron to the feed rolls andadvanced by the feed rolls to the surface of the cylinder 60. An apron24 suitable for delivering the film or web F to the dividing means isillustrated in Fig. 3.

In use of the embodiments of Figs. 3, 4, and the coarse fibers may beremoved from the fine fibers after the dividing step by any of themethods disclosed in my said copending applications Serial Nos. 410,300,465,217, 582,852 (now Patents 2,420,033, 2,420,035 2,420,036), 706,487,and 706,488.

While I have shown and described three desirable methods and threedesirable embodiments of apparatus embodying my invention, it is to beunderstood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration onlyand that equivalent forms of the apparatus may be used and the sub-'stitution of equivalent method steps may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Method of treating cashmere or similar fleeces comprisingintermingled coarse stiff fiber and fine crimpy fibers comprisingpassing to a cutting zone an aggregate of intermingled fibers in whichthe majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantiallyretracted condition, severing the aggregate at intervals which arespaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retractedcrimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarse stifffibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least ofthe coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than theaverage extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpyfibers, forming the resultant aggregate into a web or film of thecharacter of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating theweb or film to remove a substantial portion at least of the shorterstiff fibers and collecting the residue which comprises longer crimpyfibers.

2. Method of treating cashmere or similar fieeces comprisingintermingled coarse tiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprisingpassing to a cutting zone an aggregate of intermingled fibers in whichthe majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantiallyretracted condition, severing the aggregate at intervals which arespaced apart a distance of from of an inch to 3 inches whereby theaverage length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stifffibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extendedlength of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming theresultant aggregate into a web or film of the character of a web or filmproduced by a carding machine, treating the web or film to remove asubstantial portion at least of the shorter stifi fibers and collectingthe residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

3. Method of treating cashmere or similar fleeces comprisingintermingled coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprisingcarding the fleece to form a web or film of intermingled fibers in whichthe majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantiallyretracted condition, severing the web or film at intervals which arespaced apart a greater distance than the average length of the retractedcrimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarse stifffibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion at least ofthe coarse stiif fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than theaverage extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpyfibers, forming the resultant aggreate into a web or film of thecharacter of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating thelatter web or film to remove a substantial portion at least of theshorter stiff fibers and collecting the residue which comprises longercrimpy fibers.

4. Method of treating cashmere or similar fieeces comprisingintermingled coarse stifi fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprisingcarding the fieece to form a web or film of intermingled fibers in whichthe majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantiallyretracted condition, severing the web or film at intervals which arespaced apart a distance of from of an inch to 3 inches, whereby theaverage length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stifffibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extendedlength of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming theresultant aggregate into a web or film of the character of a web or filmproduced by a carding machine, treating the latter web or film to removea substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers andcollecting the residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

5. Method of treating cashmere or similar fleeces comprisingintermingled coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprisingcarding the fieece to form a web or film of intermingled fibers,condensing the web to form a sliver in which the majority at least ofthe crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition and extendgenerally longitudinally thereof, severing the sliver at intervals whichare spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of theretracted crimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarsestiii fibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion atleast of the coarse stiif fibers in the resultant aggregate is less thanthe average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpyfibers, forming the resultant aggregate into a web or film of thecharacter of a web or film produced by a carding machine, treating thelatter web or film brush 34 throwin the fibers into the teeth of thecylinder 35.

The doifer cylinder 42 removes the web or film F from the surface of thecylinder 38 and the reciprocating dofier comb 43 removes the film fromthe surface of the cylinder 42 and deposits it in the container 44.

If the coarse fibers have not been sufiiciently removed from the film orweb F as it leaves the cylinder 38 it may be passed through anotherseries of rolls and brushes like the rolls and brushes 33, 34, 35, 36and 31.

I have discovered that if the sliver S is prepared so that the crimpyfibers are in retracted condition and it is cut or divided at intervalswhich are spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of theretracted crimpy fibers, and smaller than the average length of thecoarse stifi fibers, the average length of the majority at least of thecoarse stiff fibers in the resultant mass is less than the averagelength of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers. If each stepby step feed is maintained in the range of from of an inch to 3 inches,depending upon the average length of the retracted fine crimpy fibers inthe stock which is being run, the resultant divided aggregate containsfine crimpy fibers having an average extended length which is greaterthan the average length of the resultant coarse fibers. This permits theready separation of the fine fibers from the coarse fibers in thesubsequent separating step.

In the treatment of the first grade of camels hair, for example, theamount of each step by step feed is preferably 0.75 inch or slightlymore; in the treatment of the second grade of camels hair 1.25 inches orslightly more and in the treatment of the third grade of camels hair1.75 inches or slightly more. If ungraded camels hair stock is being runthe amount of each step by step feed preferably is adjusted to slightlymore than 1.75 inches, for example, two inches.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that corresponding adjustmentsmay be made for the various grades of cashmere and wool thereby toprovide stage products from which the shorter coarse fibers may bereadily removed from the longer fine fibers.

The coarse fibers may be removed from the fine fibers by any of themethods disclosed in my said copending applications Serial No. 410,300(now Patent No. 2,420,033) and 706,488, or in my copending applicationsSerial No. 465,217, filed November 11, 1942, entitled Method andApparatus for Separating Fibers (now Patent No. 2,420,035), Serial No.582,852, filed March 15, 1945, entitled "Means for Separating ShortCoarse Fibers from Long Fine Fibers (now Patent No. 2,420,036), orSerial No. 706,487, filed ctober 29, 1946, entitled Method and Apparatusfor Separating Fibers. Generally speaking, however, except for themethod disclosed in Serial No. 706,487, filed October 29, 1946, whereinthe coarse fibers are gripped, the shorter the segments of coarse fibersare the easier it is to remove them-from the longer fine fibers.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the film or web F isremoved from the doffer cylinder 50 by the reciprocating dofier comb 5|and is deposited upon the apron 52 which is suitably supported by anddriven by the rolls 53 and 54. The web or film F is carried by the upper6 run of the apron 52 to the fiber dividing apparatus indicatedgenerally by the arrow 56.

The dividing apparatus 56 comprises a rigid roll 51 havin a smooth hardsurface which'cooperates with the roll 58. The roll 58 is mounted insuitable bearings capable of micrometer adjustment, so as to vary thedistance between the peripheries of the rolls58 and 51. The surface oftheroll 58 is provided with cutting or dividing elements, for example, aplurality of steel wires 58 (Fig. 5) wrapped helically about the surfaceof the roll 58 and attached or passed around the pins 58 or othersuitable means. The wires may be of circular cross section, of adiameter of about 0.01 of an inch and preferably they are spaced apart adistance of from of an inch to 3 inches and the spacing may bedetermined by the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers in thestock which is being run. For example, a plurality of dividing rolls maybe provided each having its dividing elements spaced a differentdistance apart from that of each of the other rolls and the appropriateroll may be selected and installed in the machine depending upon theaverage length of the retracted crimpy fibers in the grade of stockwhich is to be run.

The rolls 51 and 58 are driven in opposite directions at substantiallythe same surface speed and at substantially the same surface speed as,or at a slightly greater surface speed than, that of the apron 52. Asthe aggregate of intermingled fibers in the form of the film or web F ispassed between the bite of the rolls 51 and 58 the crimpy fibers are insubstantially retracted condition and the action of the driving dividingelements 58 against the surface of the roll 51 divides the aggregate atspaced intervals each corresponding to the distance between the adjacentdividing elements 58 The resultant aggregate is carried forwardly anddownwardly by the roll 51 and is transferred from the roll 51 to thesurface of the cylinder 60 by the rotating brush 6|. As in the case ofthe aggregate which is produced by the reciprocating dividing action ofthe member 23 in Fig. 1 this aggregate is comprised of relatively shortsections of coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fibers the majority atleast of which are longer than the coarse fibers and have an averagelength which is greater than that of the coarse fibers.

The cylinder 60 is provided with card clothing and it cooperates withthe workers and strippers fibers to the form of a continuous thin filmor web F.

The cylinders and brushes 64, 65, 66, 61, and 68 correspond to thecylinders and brushes 33, 34, 35, 36 and 31 of Fig. 1 and they functionto. separate the coarse fibers from the film or web so that when thefilm or web F is removed from the brush 68 by the cylinder 10 itcomprises soft crimpl fibers substantially free from coarse stifffibers. The cylinder 10 and the workers and strippers 1| 1l 12*= -12 and13 -43 rearrange the fibers received from the brush 68 to the form of athin film or web. The doffer cylinder 14 removes the film or web fromthe cylinder 10 and the reciprocating dofier comb 15 removes it from thedofier 14 and deposits it in the container 16.

Additional brush and cylinder motions similar to the cylinder 64 andbrush 65 may be added after the cylinder 10 if they are required toremove additional coarse stifl fibers.

to remove a substantial portion at least of the shorter stiii fibers andcollecting the residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

6. Method of treating cashmere or similar fieeces comprisingintermingled coarse stifi fibers and fine crimpy fibers comprisingcarding the fieece to form a web or film of intermingled fibers,condensing the web to form a sliver in which the majority at least ofthe crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition and extendgenerally longitudinally thereof, severing the sliver at intervals whichare spaced apart a distance of from of an inch to 3 inches, whereby theaverage length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stififibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extendedlength of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, forming theresultant aggregate into a web or film of the character of a web or filmproduced by a carding machine, treating the latter web or film to removea substantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers and cwlectingthe residue which comprises longer crimpy fibers.

7. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere or similar fleecescomprising intermingled coarse stifi fibers and fine crimpy fiberscomprising means for forming an aggregate of intermingled fibers inwhich the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantiallyretracted condition, means for severing the aggregate at intervals whichare spaced apart a greater distance than the average length of theretracted crimpy fibers but less than the average length of the coarsestiff fibers, whereby the average length of a substantial portion atleast of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is less thanthe average extended length of the majority at least of the fine crimpyfibers and means for separating a substantial portion at least of theshorter stiff fibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

8. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere or similar fleecescomprising intermingled coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fiberscomprising means for forming an aggregate of intermingled fibers inwhich the majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantiallyretracted condition, means for severing the aggregate at intervals whichare spaced apart a distance of from A of an inch to 3 inches, wherebythe average length of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stifffibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the average extendedlength of the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers, and

means for separating a substantial portion at least of the shorter stifffibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

9. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere or similar fleecescomprising intermingled coarse stiff fibers and fine crimpy fiberscomprising rotary severing means, means operative to present theintermingled fibers to the severing means in a continuous aggregate inwhich flie majority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantiallyretracted condition, the severing means including longitudinallyextending substantially parallel severing elements which are spacedapart a greater distance than the average length of the retracted crimpyfibers but less than the average length of the coarse stifi fibers,whereby the average length 01' a substantial portion at least 01' thecoarse stifl! fibers in the resultant aggregate is less than the averageextended length 01' the majority at least of the fine crimpy fibers andmeans for separating a subwhereby the average length of a substantialportion at least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregateis less than the average extended length of the majority at least of thefine crimpy fibers, and means for separating a substantial portion atleast of the shorter stifi fibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

11. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere,-

or similar fleeces comprising intermingled coarse still fibers and finecrimpy fibers comprising reciprocating severing means, means operativeto form the intermingled fibers into a continuous aggregate in which themajority at least of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retractedcondition, means for periodically advancing the aggregate for engagementby the severing means at intervals which are spaced apart a greaterdistance than the average length of the retracted crimpy fibers but lessthan the average length of the coarse stiff fibers, whereby the averagelength of a substantial portion at least of the coarse stiff fibers inthe resultant aggregate is less than the average extended length of themajority at least of the fine crimpy fibers and means for separating asubstantial portion at least of the shorter stiff fibers from the longercrimpy fibers.

12. Apparatus for use in separating cashmere or similar fleecescomprising intermingled coarse stifi fibers and fine crimpy fiberscomprising reciprocating severing means, means operative to form theintermingled fibers into a continuous aggregate in which the majority atleast of the crimpy fibers are in substantially retracted condition,means for periodically advancing the aggregate for engagement by thesevering means at intervals which are spaced apart a distance of from ofan inch to 3 inches, whereby the average length of a substantial portionat least of the coarse stiff fibers in the resultant aggregate is lessthan the average extended length of the majority at least of the finecrimpy fibers and means for separating a substantial portion at least ofthe shorter stiif fibers from the longer crimpy fibers.

ROBERT A. FAIRBAIRN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 20, 1936 Certificate ofCorrection Patent No. 2,513,299 July 4, 1950 ROBERT A. FAIRBAIRN It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 6, line 36, strike out the word driving;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of October, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

1. METHOD OF TREATING CASHMERE OR SIMILAR FLEECES COMPRISINGINTERMINGLED COARSE STIFF FIBERS AND FINE CRIMPY FIBERS COMPRISINGPASSING TO A CUTTING ZONE AN AGGREGATE OF INTERMINGLED FIBERS IN WHICHTHE MAJORITY AT LEAST OF THE CRIMPY FIBERS ARE IN SUBSTANTIALLYRETRACTED CONDITION, SEVERING THE AGGREGATE AT INTERVALS WHICH ARESPACED APART A GREATER DISTANCE THAN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF HTE RETRACTEDCRIMPY FIBERS BUT LESS THAN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF A SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONAT LEAST OF HTE COARSE STIFF FIBERS IN THE RESULTANT AGGREGATE IS LESSTHAN THE AVERAGE EXTENDED LENGTH OF THE MAJORITY AT LEAST OF THE FINECRIMPY FIBERS, FORMING THE RESULTANT AGGREGATE INTO A WEB OR FILM OF THECHARACTER OF A WEB OR FILM PRODUCED BY A CARDING MACHINE, TREATING THEWEB OF FILM TO REMOVE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION AT LEAST OF THE SHORTERSTIFF FIBERS AND COLLETING THE RESIDUE WHICH COMPRISES LONGER CRIMPYFIBERS.